04-18-1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--April 18, 1989 238 Hr. Eckert stated that the severance pay requested by Hr. Offutt is a matter of determining whether it was a forced resignation. Hiss Brumfie]d asked what the resignation said, and Mr. Eckert read the letter which the Commission received from Richard Offutt on April 4, 1989. States Attorney Robert Hoy stated that Mr. Offutt does not indicate in his letter that he was asked to resign. Sandra Brumfie]d did not fee] there was any hint of a forced resignation. Mr. Wieland felt that the request for comp time should be taken as a separate issue, and on the severance pay he stated that he was lead to believe that one member of the Commission asked for Mr. Offutt's resignation, but Mr. Wieland stated that he did not know if this was a true statement. MOTION, withdrawn Mr. Wieland moved and Mr. Sondrall seconded to approve payment to Richard Offutt for his regular salary for April 3rd, payment for unused vacation of 84 hours, and payment for two weeks severance pay, these being items 1, 2, and 4 in Mr. Offutt's letter to the Personnel Department. Hr. Sondrall suggested paying all four items, but Hr. Eckert was concerned that this would set a precedent on paying comp time to department heads. Sandra Brumfield stated that the comp time was not approved prior to accruing it, and she cautioned the Commissioners about setting a precedent on comp time and on severance pay. Mr. Shannon stated that it would be wrong to pay this man severance pay. He stated that on January 3, 1989, County department heads complained to the Commissioners at a luncheon meeting about the services of the Data Processing Department. He stated that he is very disappointed with the inaction of Commissioners Wie]and and Mr. Eckert in this matter, and he criticized them for making all kinds of assumptions about him without asking him. Mr. Shannon stated that he understood that on two occasions two Commissioners requested Auditor Ordelle Brua to resign without Board approval and that the Chairman asked Diana Murack to resign. Mr. Eckert stated that he has never asked anybody to resign, and Mr. Shannon stated that he has not asked anybody to resign either. Mr. Eckert stated that Richard Offutt commented to him that Mr. Shannon had gone to his office and asked him to resign. Mr. Wieland apologized to Mr. Shannon for bringing this issue up and stated that he only heard a resignation was requested of Mr. Offutt and brought it up as a point that maybe there was some indication of a forced resignation. Nr. Wieland withdrew his motion to pay item 4, severance pay, at this time but reserved the option of bringing it back in two weeks time if he finds that there is some indication that it should be paid. He requested that the States Attorney and the Personnel Assistant provide the Commissioners with a recommendation in regard to the severance pay. Mr. Sondrall withdrew his second.